A Rwandan national has died moments after crossing into Uganda where she had reportedly come in search of food. The deceased has been identified as Elizabeth Mukarugwiza, 37. At the time of her death, she was reportedly running away from Rwandan security personnel, who wanted to stop her from crossing to Uganda.
One of the Rwandan women who sought anonymity narrates that they were using the porous borders to stealthily cross to Uganda to get food for their starving families. But their plan was thwarted by Rwandan security officials who are deployed at the borderlines and block their movements.
Mukarugwiza collapsed and died moments after running off and making it to Uganda according to Uganda Red Cross volunteers at Kyanika border.
“We were approached by a police officer to run and give first aid to a woman who had collapsed at Kyanika boarder. When we reached the scene, she was unconscious. Few minutes in the process, she breathed her last.” Ronald Kanyerezi, the Uganda Red Cross branch manager at Kyanika border said.
Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Maate says that Mukarugwiza’s body has been taken to Kisoro hospital mortuary for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.
Rwanda closed its border in Kyanika and Katuna, a month ago, blocking traffic from Uganda. The country accused Ugandan authorities of harbouring Rwandan dissidents planning to topple the Kagame administration, oppressing Rwandans nationals in Uganda, illegally detaining and deporting others.
As a result, the government of Rwanda cautioned its nationals against travelling to Uganda saying their safety is not guaranteed. Rwanda also deployed security officials and destroyed all temporary bridges on streams on all porous borders to bar Rwandans from crossing to Uganda. Rwandan students who were studying from Uganda have also been told to forget about Ugandan education and start afresh in Rwanda.